truth and value claims

LET’S ARGUE SOME MORE

Yes, we’re not yet done.

But first! A review:

WHAT ARE THE HIDDEN ASSUMPTIONS IN THESE

STATEMENTS?

It should not be

illegal for adults to

smoke pot. After all, it does not harm

anyone.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

HIDDEN ASSUMPTION: Anything that does not cause harm should not be made illegal.

Giving students a fail grade will

damage their self-confidence. Therefore, we should not fail students.

HA: WE SHOULD NOT DAMAGE OUR STUDENTS’ SELF CONFIDENCE.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

There is nothing wrong talking on a mobile phone during lectures. Other students do it all the time.

HA: If an action is done by other students (or people) all the time, then there is nothing wrong with it.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

WHAT IS THE HIDDEN ASSUMPTION THE ARTICLE IS LEADING US TO?

SALT LAKE CITY--Shauna Redford, daughter of actor Robert Redford, was rescued when her car plunged into river, authorities said yesterday.

They said Redford was wearing a seatbelt and suffered only minor injuries in the accident Friday. She was rescued by 3 other motorists. She was held at a hospital overnight for observation and released.

Last summer, Sidney Wells, 22, a student who dated Shauna Redford, was shot and killed in Boulder. Police said the killing may have been drug related.

FRUITLESS ARGUMENTS

MATTERS OF ABSOLUTE FACT THAT CAN BE VERIFIED/CHECKED.– 2009 UAAP champs.– Oscar nominations.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

MATTERS OF TASTE. –Pink vs. Blue

WHAT CAN WE ARGUE ABOUT?

TRUTH CLAIMS– Statements of the way

things are (or were/will be) rather than statements of preference.

– Tested upon EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE.

VALUE CLAIMS– Expressing preference.– Norms/ criteria must be

established.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

TRUTH CLAIM #1

X (is, is not) an instance of Y. • China (is, is not) shaping up to be the most

powerful nation in the 21st century.

TRUTH CLAIM # 2

X (resembles, does not resemble) Y.

The injustices committed during Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s presidency (are, are not) comparable those committed during the Marcos years.

TRUTH CLAIM # 3

X (is, is not) the cause of Y. – The paltry allocation of funds for Education

in our national budget is the cause of our growing illiteracy rate.

TRUTH CLAIM #4

X (is, is not) the consequence of Y. – Our widespread poverty is a consequence

of widespread corruption.

VALUE CLAIM

EXPRESS PREFERENCES BASED ON NORMS/ CRITERIA PEOPLE CAN AGREE ABOUT.

Thus, it is very important to establish norms or criteria by which to evaluate the judgment being made.

ARGUMENTS ABOUT POLICY OR ACTION

Deal with whether or not certain things should be done.

We (should, should not) do X. – We (should, should not) segregate

passengers in MRT cars.

ARGUMENTS ABOUT FAIRNESS

Deal with questions of justice. X (is, is not) fair.– It (is, is not fair) to ban smoking in the

entire campus. – It is (fair, not fair) to allow the ordination of

female priests in the Catholic Church.)

EVALUATION ARGUMENTS

Deal with whether certain things are “good” or “bad”

X (is, is not) good. – The Lord of the Rings (is better, worse)

than Harry Potter.– Joker Arroyo (was, wasn’t) a good senator.

TESTING VALUE CLAIMS

What criteria would you use to evaluate any of the value claims?